Compact dispensing tube opener

Abstract

A compact dispensing tube opener for accessing contents of a dispensing tube having a dispensing tip and an inner seal. The opener includes a housing with first and second passageways therein meeting at an angle at an intersection. A blade carriage is movable in the second passageway and across the intersection at one end thereof, a manually accessible portion at an opposite end thereof extending from the housing. A cooperative guide structure at the housing and the blade carriage maintains carriage slidability within the housing during use without binding. Return springs are maintained in the housing for returning the carriage after use. A dispenser tube tip locator is slidably maintained at the housing adjacent to an opening to the first passageway and has plurality of angled passages therethrough each with a different diameter. A lance is mounted at the housing for puncturing the seal, and is pivotable into and out of a channel defined crosswise in the housing.

1. A compact dispensing tube opener for accessing contents of a dispensing tube having a tip that requires cutting to allow dispensing of material from the tube, said opener comprising:
 a housing defining first and second passageways intersecting at an angle in said housing, said first passageway for receiving and stabilizing a selected length of the dispensing tip therein; 
 a blade carriage slidable relative to said housing along said second passageway and including a blade receiving end maintained substantially entirely within said housing and a manually accessible portion extending from said housing; and 
 a tip locator movably retained at said housing adjacent to said first passageway and including plural angled passages defined therethrough, each of said passages having a different diameter and selectively movable into correspondence with said first passageway thereby accommodating stabilization of the dispensing tube tip at different user selected cutting locations along the length of the dispensing tube tip. 
 
   
   
     2. The opener of  claim 1  wherein said intersecting angle of said passageways in said housing is less that 90°. 
   
   
     3. The opener of  claim 1  wherein the dispensing tube includes an inner seal, said opener further comprising a lance pivotably mounted at said housing for puncturing the seal, said housing including a transverse channel extending crosswise in one side of said housing, said lance including a pivot and said housing including a hub together configured so that said lance is pivotable into and out of said channel. 
   
   
     4. The opener of  claim 1  wherein said tip locator is movably retained adjacent to a first opening of said first passageway of said housing and wherein an extended segment of said first passageway is defined by any selected one of said plural angled passages defined through said tip locator when moved into correspondence with said first opening of said first passageway. 
   
   
     5. The opener of  claim 1  wherein said housing includes a surface between spaced retainer elements, said locator slidable between said retainer elements at said surface. 
   
   
     6. The opener of  claim 5  wherein at least one of said housing and said surface includes visual cues thereon adjacent to said locator for aiding a user in operation of said locator. 
   
   
     7. The opener of  claim 1  further comprising a return spring located in said housing adjacent to said blade carriage. 
   
   
     8. The opener of  claim 1  wherein said second passageway of said housing has at least a first slide guide adjacent thereto, and wherein said carriage has at least a first guide for slidable movement of said slide guide of said housing thereat. 
   
   
     9. A compact dispensing tube opener for accessing contents of a dispensing tube having a tip that requires cutting to allow dispensing of material from the tube, said opener comprising:
 a housing defining first and second passageways intersecting at an angle in said housing, said first passageway for receiving and stabilizing a selected length of the dispensing tip therein and said second passageway having at least a first slide guide adjacent thereto, said housing including first and second opposite ends with said second end configured with spaced finger contours thereat; 
 a blade carriage having at least a first guide for slidable movement of said slide guide of said housing thereat, said carriage including a blade receiving end maintained substantially entirely within said housing and a manually accessible portion extendible through said first end of said housing; and 
 a tip locator slidably maintained at said housing adjacent to said first passageway and having plural angled passages therethrough each with a different diameter and selectively movable into correspondence with said first passageway. 
 
   
   
     10. The opener of  claim 9  wherein said locator includes a protuberance thereat and wherein said housing includes a plurality of detents, correspondence of said passages being registered by engagement of said protuberance at a selected detent. 
   
   
     11. The opener of  claim 9  wherein said housing includes a transverse channel extending crosswise in one side of said housing, said opener further comprising a lance pivotably mounted at said housing and pivotable into and out of said channel. 
   
   
     12. The opener of  claim 9  wherein said housing includes a surface between spaced retainer elements, said tip locator slidable between said retainer elements at said surface. 
   
   
     13. The opener of  claim 9  wherein said carriage includes first and second blade retaining sections for replaceable securement of a standard sized blade therebetween. 
   
   
     14. The opener of  claim 9  further comprising a spring mounted between a first stop at said housing and a second stop adjacent to said guide of said carriage. 
   
   
     15. The opener of  claim 9  wherein said guide of said blade carriage is a slot. 
   
   
     16. A compact dispensing tube opener for accessing contents of a dispensing tube having a tip that requires cutting to allow dispensing of material from the tube, said opener comprising:
 a housing defining first and second passageways intersecting at an angle in said housing, said first passageway for receiving and stabilizing a selected length of the dispensing tip therein and said second passageway having at least a first slide guide adjacent thereto, said housing including first and second opposite ends with said second end configured with spaced finger contours thereat, a transverse channel extending crosswise in one side of said housing; 
 a blade carriage having at least a first guide for slidable movement of said slide guide of said housing thereat, said carriage including a blade receiving end maintained substantially entirely within said housing and a manually accessible portion extendible through said first end of said housing; and 
 a lance pivotably mounted at said housing and pivotable into and out of said channel. 
 
   
   
     17. The opener of  claim 16  wherein said blade receiving end of said carriage is configured to receive and retain a standard sized cutting blade. 
   
   
     18. The opener of  claim 16  wherein said first slide guide of said housing includes a stop and wherein said guide of said carriage includes a stop, said opener further comprising a return spring held between said stops when said opener is assembled. 
   
   
     19. The opener of  claim 16  wherein said housing includes a second slide guide adjacent to said second passageway and spaced from said first slide guide, and wherein said blade carriage includes a second guide for slidable movement of said second slide guide of said housing thereat. 
   
   
     20. The opener of  claim 16  further comprising a return maintained in said housing and operatively associated with said carriage for returning said carriage to a position wherein said blade receiving end is substantially withdrawn from an intersection of said passageways.